Shower curtain rod and fixture

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved shower curtain rod and fixture. More particularly, the invention encompasses a shower curtain rod that can be used safely and securely in the motel/hotel industry. This invention further includes inventive features, such as, a shower rod that has substantially straight ends and a portion that is visibly curved to allow for “elbow room” for upper body movement of a person using a shower, a non-twist or non-sagging feature that prevents the inventive shower curtain rod from rotating or twisting after it has been installed, a fixture to securely and safely secure the inventive shower curtain rod to a surface, such as a wall, to name a few.

1 . A straight and curved shower curtain rod, comprising:
 (a) a shower curtain rod having a central portion having a curvature,   (b) said shower curtain rod having end portions that are substantially straight,   (c) said substantially straight end portions having at least one opening, wherein at least a portion of said opening has spiraling rings,   (d) a shower rod end fixture having a substantially flat surface and a protruding portion, wherein said protruding portion has at least one opening, and wherein at least a portion of said opening has spiraling rings,   (e) at least one securing device, wherein at least a portion of said securing device has spiraling rings, and   (f) wherein said at least one securing device passes through said at least one opening in said substantially straight end portion and through said at least one opening in said protruding portion and securely mates with said spiraling rings in said substantially straight end portion and said spiraling rings in said protruding portion, so as to prevent any movement between said shower curtain rod and said shower rod end fixture.   
   
   
       2 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said central portion is between about 20 percent to about 80 percent of the total length of said straight and curved shower curtain rod. 
   
   
       3 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein material for said rod is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rustproof zinc, nickel, chrome, plastic, rubber, metallic material and composite material. 
   
   
       4 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein material for said shower rod end fixture is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rustproof zinc, nickel, chrome, plastic, rubber, metallic material and composite material. 
   
   
       5 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said securing device is selected from a group consisting of a screw, a bolt, a set-screw, and a pin. 
   
   
       6 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening in said shower rod end fixture has a recess portion to accommodate a head portion in said at least one securing device. 
   
   
       7 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said rod is selected from a group consisting of a hollow tube, and a solid tube. 
   
   
       8 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said rod is a tube where an outer material of said tube is different than an inner material for said tube. 
   
   
       9 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 8 , wherein said outer material is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rustproof zinc, nickel, chrome, plastic, rubber, metallic material and composite material. 
   
   
       10 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 8 , wherein said inner material is selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, rustproof zinc, nickel, chrome, plastic, rubber, metallic material and composite material. 
   
   
       11 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said rod has a finish selected from a group consisting of a polished finish, a bright finish, a brushed finish, a satin finish, a powder coated finish and a white powder coat finish. 
   
   
       12 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said rod is between about 36 inches to about 78 inches long, with an outer diameter of between about one half inch to about one inch, and wherein said central portion has about a bow of between about 4 inches to about 8 inches in the middle and said straight end portions are between about 3 inches to about 9 inches in length. 
   
   
       13 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said rod is preferably about 72 inches long, and more preferably about 60 inches long, with about a one inch outer diameter, and wherein said central portion has a bow of about 6 inches in the middle and said straight end portions are preferably about 4 inches in length, and more preferably about 6 inches in length. 
   
   
       14 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein at least one second securing device passes through an opening in said protruding portion and securely secures said rod to said protruding portion. 
   
   
       15 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said rod is selected from a group consisting of a hollow metal tube and a hollow rigid plastic tube. 
   
   
       16 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein said central portion having a curvature is substantially in a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       17 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spacer separates said shower rod end fixture from a wall. 
   
   
       18 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spacer separates said shower rod end fixture from a wall, and wherein said spacer is selected from a group consisting of a metal spacer, a polymer spacer, a silicon spacer, a composite-material spacer, a rubber spacer and a plastic spacer. 
   
   
       19 . A straight and curved shower curtain rod, comprising:
 (a) a shower curtain rod having a length of between about 36 inches to about 78 inches,   (b) said shower curtain rod having a central portion having a curvature, and wherein said curvature has a bow of between about 4 inches to about 8 inches,   (c) said shower curtain rod having end portions that are substantially straight, and wherein said substantially straight end portions are between about 3 inches to 9 inches long,   (d) said substantially straight end portions having at least one opening, wherein at least a portion of said opening has spiraling rings,   (e) a shower rod end fixture having a substantially flat surface and a protruding portion, wherein said protruding portion has at least one opening, and wherein at least a portion of said opening has spiraling rings,   (f) at least one securing device, wherein at least a portion of said securing device has spiraling rings, and   (g) wherein said at least one securing device passes through said at least one opening in said substantially straight end portion and through said at least one opening in said protruding portion and securely mates with said spiraling rings in said substantially straight end portion and said spiraling rings in said protruding portion, so as to prevent any movement between said shower curtain rod and said shower rod end fixture.   
   
   
       20 . The straight and curved shower curtain rod of  claim 19 , wherein at least one second securing device passes through an opening in said protruding portion and securely secures said rod to said protruding portion.